Olympic medalist, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, and 21 other top athletes have been named to participate in the 15th World Championship slated to hold between August 22 and 30 in Beijing, China.
The Africa’s fastest woman, in a statement made available by the federation’s Technical Director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, would compete alongside Gloria Asumnu, Stephanie Kalu, Deborah Odeyemi, Cecilia Francis and Ngozi Onwumere in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.
Okagbare has since 2008 been Nigeria’s saviour in athletics at both the continental and world levels.
On her own, she has won medals in the long jump, 100m, 200m and 4x110m women’s relay.
2014 was a remarkable year for the 26-year-old Sapele, Delta State-born runner at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
She won the gold medals in the 100m and 200m, breaking the 100m games record of 10.91 seconds set by Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie 12 years earlier at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
And with the World’s and All Africa Games on the horizon, Okagbare is ready to explode and cement her name as the best Nigerian runner in this century.
Other athletes on the list are Patience Okon, Regina George, Oluwatosin Adeloye, Etim Margaret, Funke Oladoye, Rita Ossai, Doreen Amata, Lindsay Weyimi Lindley, Amaka Ogoegbunam, Ese Brume, Chinwe Okoro, Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Odele Tega Peter, Tyron Akins, Ukaoma Miles and Tosin Oke while the officials includes Prof Kenneth Anugweje, Gabriel Okon, Maurice Greene, Solomon Aliyu, Yussuf Alli, Kayode Thomas and Chief Falilat Ogunkoya.
Meanwhile, Nigeria would vie for laurels in 4x400m, high jump, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, long jump, discuss and Heptathlon at the championship.
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